Just because it's an office, doesn't mean it has to be an office. When you spend such a significant amount of time in one space, it's important that it reflects not only the culture of the company, but the people who make it run.

And that fun doesn't result simply in smiles and laughs—it brings a tangible increase in workplace happiness and productivity. A more enjoyable workplace makes individuals perform better, in almost every aspect of their lives.

According to Kenexa, turnover among managers who feel pride in their company is 21% lower than among those who don't. Adds the Kenyan-born, Canadian-educated CEO Rudy Karsan: "When you're in a job that you enjoy and you're good at, you're not just a better worker. You're a better spouse, a better parent, a better citizen.

So, in the spirit of pleasant workplaces everywhere, here's a compilation of fast and fun things you can do to put a smile on your coworkers' faces—and boost productivity.

It's no secret that we want an office dog at Fast Company. So far, this Pinterest board is as close as we've gotten. Meanwhile, we've written about this culture-enhancing canine desire in two previousposts, and Purina even made a video in an attempt to push us over the edge.

Just because it's an office, doesn't mean it has to be an office. When you spend such a significant amount of time in one space, it's important that it reflects not only the culture of the company, but the people who make it run. (Related: Sometimes it's best to take meetings outside the office.

A nice work environement might even convince you to—gasp—look forward to work!

Stocking a snack drawer is cheap, and creates a focal point for conversation in the office. It also keeps people really happy, because they don't have to constantly run out of the office if they want a bite to eat.

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We have 10:30 two minute planks everyday, we turn up the music and get the blood flowing, We also have walk on Wednesday, we get out of the office and walk around from 15 to 30 minutes and lastly we do Fresh Fruit Fridays, each person in the office rotates bringing in what is in season.

Some of these are great others stupid and dangerous. I am completely against the happy hour one. All I need is sit at a bar with an employee who has half a beer, be in an accident and become negligently responsible for it. Sorry that is just plain stupid suggestion with Dram shop. Host a lunch a dinner or even an alfresco is great.

Pranks are out as well. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THE RECIPIENT WILL RECEIVE THE JOKE. The last joke I recall lead to HR being involved in a complaint against an entire department and the demotion of a manager. Also, if you are not being paid as a comedian watch your jokes.

I have always had a punching bag in my office area. I would tell people it’s better to come to HR to punch the bag instead of their boss, a wall or anything other object. People loved to come down to HR and use the punching bag (it was a child’s bag with the sand in the bottom and a super hero face). I had one person who would bring a picture of their boss and tape it to the bag. The person would get out all of their frustrations, tell me that’s all they wanted to do and go back to their office felling so much better.

We also had a resting room. All of the items in the room were donated by employees: a couch, a lamp, a cd player, cd’s or bring your own, etc. Employees could go into the room and rest. We had our once a month message therapist provide messages in the room (employees paid the reduced rate) in this low lite room with music playing. It was a hit.

I got unused bookcases from the company and put then in a hallway with books. I called it the lending library. Employees were encouraged to take and give books, tapes, videos, cd’s etc to the library.

We started a give and take trunk for employees. It started when one employee could not afford to meet the dress code which was already casual. I got a truck and put some items in the truck. I was called the keep charity at home truck - Give and Take. It was a great hit.

We had “Just Because Days” for the employees. We would get pizza’s and soda and serve lunch or let people wear jeans on a Wednesday - Just Because We Think You Are Great, Just Because We Want To Thank You, Just Because!

These were just some of the different things we did to make work different, unique, helpful and special.

We decorate our office by season.....Water fountains, a fake fish tank, (run by battery, dead fish not good in a pediatric office....lol...)...At Christmas I made little angels and put all the girls faces on them, and the guys, were ginger bread men....Another year I bought miniature picture frames, and hung everyone's picture on the "Holiday tree"....Laughter is the best medicine for a hectic office...That and actually caring for the people you work with......

Dog? No. You want a dog at work, talk the boss into allowing you to telecommute from home

Pranks? If I came back from vacation and had to waste an hour taking foil off everything, I wouldn't: I'd take my laptop and phone somewhere until the office idiot who went to the trouble undid the prank.

Tristan: Seriously!! Miles' comments are really snotty and very, very poorly written. Not all ideas will work in all environments. Just like Miles would never make it at our company with his complete lack of a sense of humor.

We have a very scattered team so we have a "cloud-based" office:) I found a great app called Anchor that we use to inject humor and tidbits about our personal lives into the day. It helps us build team morale and camaraderie. I would love to have an office dog but I don't see that happening.

Oh hell no on the office dog. I've worked in an office with a dog in it before and I would consider this a hostile workplace. If you can bring your stinking, slobbering dog to the office, then smoking and sexual harassment should be allowed as well.

Fun thing to see in Japan, the "Nomikai" (飲み会) ; litterally "Drinking meetings", are so much part of the corporate culture, that nowadays workers seem to not wanna go anymore, as they associate it with work, and not fun anymore. (This, and so many other reasons such as, financial crisis limiting the monthly pocket money men get from their wifes; women having to navigate with hability between unwanted sollicitations from drunk bosses... )

The golden days of Nomunication (I.e corporate internal communication around a drink) seem far away!

My wife and I work together, and have USB-controlled foam missile launchers we can aim with our keyboards. If I need her attention, and feel froggy, I launch a barrage of soft foam projectiles her way. That and our mascot, the Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head keeps watch and makes sure we don't have too much fun that it interferes with our work.

Great list! Super excited to see that here at PostcardMania, we have literally EVERY part of this list (several times over where the office dog is concerned), but one awesome asset we've got here that isn't on the list is an office masseuse! She comes around and de-stresses us, massage-style. She's a dream. A DREAM.